UAE to begin Covid-19 vaccine trials with 15,000 volunteers

The UAE government has confirmed that it is set to begin Covid-19 vaccine trials in 15,000 volunteers imminently.

The trials have been approved by the Ethics Committee Scientific research in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) said on Monday.

Al Owais said that this Phase III stage includes testing two possible vaccines and added that the best scientific standards will be adopted when conducting the trials.

Al Owais: Phase III of the clinical trial considers the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine in a larger population sample. More than 15,000 volunteers are ready to be part of the trial. Once the vaccine is confirmed safe and effective, it enters into the manufacturing phase.

— UAEGov (@uaegov) July 13, 2020

“Once the vaccine is confirmed safe and effective, it enters the manufacturing phase,” he added.

In June, Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm China National Biotec Group (CNBG) and Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence and cloud computing company Group 42 (G42) signed a clinical cooperation agreement to begin the world’s first phase III clinical trials of a Covid-19 inactivated vaccine.

Read: UAE begins world’s first phase III clinical trial of Covid-19 vaccine

It was reported at the time that, if successful, the vaccine could enter the market by the end of 2020 or early 2021.

“The UAE Government works hand in hand with international partners and collaborate globally to confront the threat of Covid-19 pandemic,” said Al Owais.

Also on Monday, MoHAP said that 344 new Covid-19 cases had been detected, taking the overall number of infections to 55,198.

مستجدات الوضع الصحي والحالات المرتبطة بمرض #كوفيد19 في دولة #الإمارات
الاثنين 13 يوليو 2020
The latest developments on Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the #UAE pic.twitter.com/TtAS8KqZ6v

— UAEGov (@uaegov) July 13, 2020

The new cases were detected following 34,478 tests to screen for the virus. The total number of Covid-19 tests conducted has now crossed four million.

There were 373 new recoveries recorded too, taking the total number of recoveries in the country to 45,513.

There are 9,351 active cases still receiving medical care, while the ministry reported one additional death on Monday. The overall number of fatalities stands at 334.

At the ministry’s press briefing on Monday, Mohamed Hassan Ahly, the spokesperson and executive director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FSCA) announced the launch of a Covid-19 database which will provide daily statistical updates on new cases, recovered cases, tests and deaths.

Ahli: We announce the launch of a Covid-19 database which will provide daily statistical updates on new cases, recovered cases, tests and deaths. #UAEGov

— UAEGov (@uaegov) July 13, 2020

The database has been jointly created MoHAP, the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority and the FSCA and will facilitate easier sharing of information regarding the Covid-19 virus within the country.